McDermott aglow over Bills' team chemistry, belief

ATLANTA — There was a lot of talk about chemistry and team and belief in the Bills' locker room after Sunday's 23-17 upset of the Falcons. That's understandable. They had notched the team's biggest road win in more than two decades and taken over sole possession of first place in the AFC East.

Head coach Sean McDermott believes that every player on the roster needs to contribute at some point. Against Atlanta, guys like Eddie Yarbrough, Ryan Davis, Matt Milano, Shareece Wright and Leonard Johnson played key roles for a defense that was compromised by injuries.

McDermott, who is likely to get mentioned in some coach of the year talk at the quarter mark of the NFL season, brightened when I asked him how it felt to see some of his more obscure players rise up in a huge road win.

"I love that about this team, man," McDermott said. "I love it. The coaches and team, everybody at One Bills, that's who we are. They're a gritty, resilient group and these guys, they just love to play together. They love to play together. It's fun to watch them prepare."

"The chemistry that's building on this team is tremendous," he said. "This is a team."

Veteran guard Richie Incognito agreed that the team concept runs through the entire roster and contributes to the team chemistry.

"No doubt," Incognito said. "It's a testament to what we're building. It's special. I wish I could find the words, but it really is special. The belief, the trust. Coming in here (to Atlanta) like this, it could be a springboard for the rest of our season."